Canadian Military Engineers

The Regiment

8 Field Engineer Regiment (8 FER) is the Reserve (Milita) unit of the Canadian Military Engineers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The unit parades Wednesday evenings and Saturdays at the Lt. Col. Debney Armoury, in Edmonton. It is assigned to 41 Canadian Brigade Group, part of Land Forces Western Area. The unit is currenty commaned by Lt. Col. D. O'Keefe, with MWO R. Luard as the unit's Regimental Sergeant Major. Canadian Military Engineers // Canadian Military Engineers History Creation Following the Boer War the Canadian Government realized that more the defence of Canada required more than just a single infantry battalion and a few artillery batteries as part of the permament defence force. ... More than one place has the name Edmonton. ... Motto: Fortis et Liber (Latin: Strong and free) Official languages English Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ralph Klein (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 28 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 6th (provinces and territories) 661,848 km² 642,317 km² 19... Land Force Western Area is responsible for all Canadian army operations and administration in western Canada from the northern Lakehead region of Ontario to the Pacific Ocean. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sergeant Major. ...

History

8 Field Engineer Regiment traces it linage to 9th Army Troops Company (Canadian Engineers), which recruited from the Edmonton Area During the First World War. The unit was disbanded following the end of the war.

In 1937, following a reorganization of the Militia in Canada, 9th Army Troops Company was reactivated to serve in the local militia. During the Second World War 9th Army Troops Company served as part of 1st Battalion Army Troops (Royal Canadian Engineers). Through most of the war, they served as construction troops supporting First Canadian Army. At the end of the war 9th Army Troops Company was redesignated 33 Field Squadron (Royal Canadian Engineers).

In 1948, 8 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers was created around 33 Field Squadron to encompass the Engineer Militia in the Province of Alberta. Throughout its post-War history the Regiment has had Squadrons in Edmonton, Yellowknife, NWT, Calgary, and Lethbridge.

By the late 1980's the Regiment had two field Squadrons, 25 Field Squadron in Edmonton and 33 Field Squadron in Calgary. 33 Field Engineer Squadron became independent in 1991, and a 85 Support Squadron was activated to provide Heavy Equipment support to the Regiment

Training and Deployments

As a reserve unit, 8 Field Engineer Regiment continues to train in skills to support the Canadian Forces aboard and at home. In recent years the Regiment has conducted exercises in:

• Fort Lewis, Washington, US.
• CFB Wainwright, Alberta
• CFB Suffield, Alberta
• CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
• Outlook, Saskatchewan

Personnel from the unit has also been deployed on United Nations and NATO peacekeeping missions including: Fort Lewis is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post located in Pierce County, Washington. ... CFB/ASU Wainwright is a Canadian Forces Base/Area Support Unit located adjacent to the Town of Wainwright in Alberta, Canada. ... Canadian Forces Base Suffield (also CFB Suffield), is the largest Canadian Forces Base and one of the largest military training bases in the world. ... CFB Cold Lake Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake or 4 Wing Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located in Cold Lake, Alberta. ... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: From many peoples, strength) Official languages English Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Lieutenant-Governor Lynda M. Haverstock Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 14 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 7th 651,036 km² 591,670 km² 59... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that describes itself as a global association of governments facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on...

• Bosina (Operation Palladium),
• Afganistan (Operation Athena and Operation Archer).

Operation Athena is a Canadian Forces contribution to the United Nations International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, which began in August 2003. ... Operation Archer is the Canadian Forces contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from February 2006 in the region of Khandahar with around 2,300 personnel. ...

Mascot

Due in large part to their natural construction ablilities, and their presence in the canadian wilderness the beaver has long been the symbol of military engineering in Canada. The official mascot of 8 FER is Bentley F. Beaver, which is a stuff beaver located in the 1 Troop offices in the Debney Armoury.